I was reading Proverbs 13:12 (ESV) this morning:
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life”
I read this with my 10-year old son. He was, understandably, a little unsure of its deep meaning. So we looked to another resource to gain more perspective. I grabbed an old classic off the shelf, Lectures on the Book of Proverbs, by Rev. Raph Wardlaw, D.D., 1861, reprinted by Klock & Klock, Minneapolis, 1981.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to find. I was delighted by something I read that illustrates the sense of deferred hope:
“We have the case of Abraham in regard to God’s promise. O! the time was long! The delay looked strange. And, although his faith did not fail, yet at times his spirit seems to have felt the encroaching weariness of protracted waiting without any appearance of fulfilment” (sic)”
Abraham had the promise that God would provide an heir for him and his wife, Sarah. It was important in those days to have children who could care for parents when they grew old. It was also important to have children to help take care of the family estate.
When God’s promise appeared delayed, Abram and Sarai questioned whether God was still going to deliver on his promise. This caused them to grow ancy and to make a step taking matters into their own hands. When hope is delayed, it really challenges our faith. It makes the heart sick in that we don’t think clearly and we waver on standing upon God’s promise.
But once his promise is fulfilled, our strength is renewed. God’s faithfulness is demonstrated. And we tell the tale of God’s promise and deliverance. We become a tree of life, providing fruit for all who will eat of it.